Grain harvest gathers pace

The Albany terminal of the Co-operative Bulk Handling company received its first truckload of grain of the 2016 season this week.

A road train carrying about 55 tonnes of high-grade canola from the Gairdner River area successfully unloaded in Albany on Tuesday. With warm weather forecast this weekend, the harvest program was expected to gather pace.

CBH terminal quality co-ordinator Brendan Simmons said the deliveries would be much later than usual this season because of the high rainfall across the region throughout the year.

Mr Simmons, a veteran of more than 40 years at Albany CBH, said Tuesday’s delivery of canola was some of the highest quality seed he had seen.

The Albany terminal should receive about 450,000 tonnes of grain this season but Mr Simmons said it was too early to know exactly what tonnage would be delivered.

According to CBH, the harvest was progressing well in all four port zones across WA. Growers were harvesting their best crops, resulting in strong yields for both barley and canola, CBH said.

In the Geraldton Port Zone, about 400,000 tonnes had been received, about 150,000 tonnes in Kwinana, and about 35,000 tonnes in Esperance, while fewer than 1000 tonnes has been taken to Albany.